Outdoors

Daily fishing report

By ROB GORTA
Published April 6, 2006

Redfishing remains the No. 1 choice. Schools can be found on almost every major shallow water grass flat. Having a live well full of scaled sardines is key. These schools have been reacting to live bait chum on the higher tides in the afternoon.

Deeper water keeps the school from getting spooked by anglers or birds diving after the live chum. A 20-pound leader with circle hooks helps land a fish and keeps from hooking them in the belly. Remember, don't set the hook. Let the fish tighten the line and then reel. Also, pompano have arrived. All of the Tampa Bay piers report good numbers of pompano being caught by shore anglers. Passes are a good place to start for boaters. A strong tide is needed to set up a drift. Once established, throw banana shaped jigs.

Rig the jigs in tandem with flies attached to the jig. This gives the jig more flare and action. Long casts in all directions will help locate the best angle to throw, with or against the tide. Once that is established, make multiple drifts and work the jig closer to the bottom. The idea is to imitate a sand flea or small crustacean lost in the current.

Pompano regulations have changed. Minimum size is 11 inches and maximum size is 20 inches to the fork of the tail. The limit is six per person, per day aggregate for pompano and permit. You can possess one over 20 inches of either pompano or permit. Vessel restriction: No more than two pompano or permit over 20 inches at any time in any combination.

[Last modified April 6, 2006, 02:00:13]